Container construction



CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 7, 1944 v 2 SheetsSheet l fIE-3 l INVENTORS.

y 1949- R. H. HORNING EI'AL 2,470,984

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .'/IIIIIII,,IIIIIIIIIII.

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g X/WF %mze M Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,470,984 CONTAINER 7 CONSTRUCTION Application September 7, 1944, Serial No. 552,940

10 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with containers formed of sheet material, such as paperboard and the like, and has as an object a top closure structure formed of sheet fibrous material and which is adapted to be affixed to the top edge of the body of the container after the, same has been filled, said closure including a portion readily movable from the top edge of the body of the container to provide an opening for the removal of the contents, and which serves as a temporary closure for such opening.

The invention therefore has as an object a container having a top closure, as referred to, embodying a structure which is particularly economical to manufacture and apply to the container body, and which is conveniently manipulated to provide a pouring opening.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and'constructions hereinafter 'set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying our invention.-

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, with the movable portion of the top closure open.

Figure 3 is a top plan viewof the container shown in Figures 1 and 2. I

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the container body previous to the application of the top closure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the strip used in the unsealed portion of the top closure.

Figure 7 "s a plan view of a blank used in forming the body of the container shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cylindrical container embodying our invention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view of the top edge of the container body.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view, similar to Figure 5, illustrating a modified construction.

The body ill of the container is of, tubular formation provided with a suitable bottom closure. The body may be of any desired cross sectional form, such as rectangular as shown in Figures 1 to 4, or cylindrical as shown in Figure 8. We prefer the-rectangular formation as it has a number of advantages over the cylindrical type. For example, the square or rectangular shape is 2 more economical from the packing and storage standpoint, and the top closure is arranged so that the movable portion thereof is adjacent one of the corners of the container, thereby providing a cornerpour which is somewhat more convenient than pouring over a circular edge. Also, the rectangular body formation is better adapted for manufacturing the container'in the plant of the packer.

These containers are particularly well suited for the packaging of liquid products, such as milk, and it is advantageous to manufacture the containers in the dairy as needed, as compared to manufacturing the containers in the container manufacturing plant, and shipping the completed containers to the dairy. The rectangular container is better suited for such manufacture than is the cylindrical formation, as shown in Figure 8, in that the container body is readily formed from a flat blank, scored in the conventional manner to provide side wall panels ll, I2 and I3. The blank is also scored to form panels l5, IS, the edges of which are arranged in overlapping relation to form the side wall seam 18 of the tubular formation.

Regardless of the cross sectional form of the container, it is first filled and the top closure is then sealed to the top edge of the container. This arrangement makes available the entire cross sectional dimension of the container for filling, as distinguished from filling through a relatively small opening in the top closure, and avoids manipulating any portion of the top closure to provide such a filling opening.

The top closure conforms in general shape to that of the body it and consists of a central flat portion 20 formed about its periphery with an inverted channel 2| having inner and outer side Walls 22, 23, respectively. The channel is formed to receive the top edge of the container body. At least the inner surface of the container body and the under side of the top closure is coated with an impervious, heat sealing, substance 24 such, for example, as the copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.

After the application of the top closure to the top edge of the container body, the major portion of the channel 2| is sealed to the top edge of the body. This is brought about by applying heat and pressure to the inner and outer walls 22, 23, of the channel 2|, the heat causing the coating on the body and closure to soften and unite forming a permanent impervious seal between the two members. The remaining portion of the flange is not permanently sealed to the top edge of the container, but is maintained in liquid tight engagement therewith and in such a manner that it can be readily moved from engagement with the top edge oLtlg body to provide an opening for the removal of the contents.

A strip 26 of thin, sheet material is interposed between the unsealed portion of the channel 2i and the adjacent top edge of the body it. This strip is sealed to the inner surface ofthe channel 2 i but it is not sealed to the top edge of the body.

In the rectangular container, the channel 2! is sealed beginning at a point indicated at 28, Figure l, and continuing around the corners 29, 30, M, to a point indicated at 32. The remaining portion of the channel, extending from the point 32 around the fourth comer to the point 28, constitutes the unsealed portion of the channel. It is in this portion that the strip 26 is positioned and, of course, the length of the unsealed portion is commensurate with the length of the strip 26. In order that this unsealed portion may be most conveniently manipulated, the outer wall 23 thereof may be weakened or cut at about the midpoint of the unsealed portion, that is at the fourth corner of the container, as indicated at 31. Also, the outer wall 23 may be weakened a short distance from the ends of the unsealed portion, as at 4 It is preferable that the inner portion of the strip engaging the inner wall 23 of the channel extend slightly below the wall 22, as indicated at 45, Figure 5, in Order to make certain that the-- inner wall 22 will not be sealed to the top edge of the body throughout the length of the strip 26. Also, the outer fold of the strip engaging the outer channel wall 23 is preferably extended downwardly, as indicated at 46, which provides a convenient means for initially manipulating the unsealed portion of the channel. That is, the extending portion 56 is conveniently grasped by the fingers and readily separable from the side wall of the body, and when the strip is formed of metal foil, it is of suiiicient strength to effect upward movement of the movable portion of the closure. The exposed portion 46 on the rectangular container is provided with a notch 61, or a cut, arranged in juxtaposition to the cut 31 of the outer flange wall in order that the outer fold of the foil may be more readily severed.

36, 39, and preferably the flat central portion 20 is scored as at 40, and may be additionally scored as at ll. The score 40 defines the unsealed movable portion of the closure, and the score 4|, extending perpendicular to the score 40, tends to prevent bulging of the container when the movable portion is manipulated.

In the circular container Figure 8, the unsealed portion of the flange 2! is likewise defined by the length of the strip '20. In this instance, the outer wall 23 of the channel is weakened as at 38, 39, and the movable portion of the closure is defined by a score 44 extending on the chord of the arc of the movable portion.

The strip 26 performs one or more functions,-

the most important of which is to prevent the permanent sealing of the movable portion of the channel 28. In general, this is accomplished by using material for the strip which does not seal to the top edge of the body, or the coating thereon, or at least does not seal thereto so that the strip can not be readily and easily separated from the body. For example, the strip 26 may be formed of metal foil which is not adhesively compatible to certain adhesive materials, such as the copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate herein referred to. The strip is coated on one side with material compatible to the vinyl coatmg, whereby either previous to the application of the closure to the container, or thereafter, the strip becomes permanently sealed to the inner surface of the channel 2 I. The strip is not coated on the opposite side engaging the top edge of the container and therefore, it does not become sealed thereto.

Where the outer wall 23 of the channel is weakened by being cut through as at 31, the strip 26 performs the further function of maintaining a continuous uninterrupted channel past the weakened part, whereby the natural reinforcing effect of the channel formation is maintained until after the strip 26 has been ruptured. Also, where the outer wall is so weakened by being out through, the strip 26 protects the top edge and corner of the body wall immediately under the cut from contamination and accordingly, when the unsealed portion is raised the top edge of the body, over which the contents is poured, is clean.

The strip 26 may be sealed in the channel 2| during the formation of the top closure or, it may be detachably secured to the blank, as shown in Figure 7, from which the body of the container is formed. The strip 26 may be so detachably secured to the blank by frictionally engaging the blank, or being indented into the blank as by use of a knurling tool, or other suitable means, as indicated at 48, Figures '7 and 9. Or, the strip 26 may be so secured to the blank by means of an adhesive 50, Figure 10, of low strength, preferably a wax adhesive which does not readily unite with the coating on the blank, but which adheres sufllciently to keep the strip in place during the formation of the blank into the tubular body portion. The wax is preferred to the knurling inasmuch as the wax prevents capillary attraction between the knurled portion of the strip and the adjacent top edge of the body. This is of importance where the filled containers are subjected to liquid contamination as, for example, by being packed in ice for shipment.

To open the container, the depending portion 46 of the strip 26 is grasped and is readily peeled or separated from the container body. Continued outward movement thereof causes the outer fold of the strip above the notch or out ill to sever, thus breaking the outer wall of the channel formation. Thereupon, the unsealed portion may be moved upwardly, at which time the ends of the outer wall 23 of the movable portion separate or tear loose from the outer wall of the channel formation. It is for this reason that the weakened points 38, 39, make the movable portion more easy to manipulate.

It will be observed that these weakened points 38, 39, are located a short distance beyond the ends of the strip 26. Or, in other words, the portion of the outer wall intermediate the ends of the strip 26 and the weakened points 36, 36, is sealed to the container body. This sealed portion is suiiicient to maintain the movable portion of the channel rigid and firmly pressed in liquid tight relation against the top edge of the container body. These small sealed portions however are not suflicient to noticeably interfere with movement of the movable portion, particularly in view of the fact that such sealed portions are limited by the weakened points 36, 36, which readily permit separation of the outer flanges 23 of the movable portion from the remaining sealed portion. The movable portion is folded upwardly as indicated in Figure 2, thereby providing a convenient pour opening.

It will be observed that we have provided a top closure which is rigidly secured to the container and which will be entirely leak-proof during handling of the container, is readily and conveniently opened. We have found that with this construction, the unsealed portion of the closure tends to spring back in place when released and accord-,

ingly, affords a temporary closure for the pouring opening after the container has been once opened andpart of the contents removed.

What we claim is:

1. A container formed of sheet material comprising a tubular body, a top closure formed at its periphery with an inverted channel to receive the top edge of the body, the major portion of said channel being sealed to the top edge of the body and the remaining portion being unsealed thereto, the outer wall of the unsealed portion of said channel being weakened intermediate the ends of said portion, a strip of thin sheet material positioned intermediate said unsealed portion of th channel and the adjacent top edge of the body and extending across said weakened part, said strip being sealed to the inner surface of the walls of said channel and being unsealed to the adjacent top edge of the body.

2. A container formed of sheet material comprising a tubular body, a top closure formed at its periphery with an inverted channel to receive,

the top edge of the body, the major portion of said channel being sealed to the top edge of the body and the remaining portion being unsealed thereto, the outer wall of the unsealed portion of said channel being weakened intermediate the ends of said portion, a strip of thin sheet material positioned intermediate said unsealed portion of the channel and the adjacent top edge of the body and extending across said weakened part, said strip being sealed to the inner surface of the walls of said channel and being detachably secured to the adjacent top edge of the body.

3. A container formed of sheet fibrous material comprising a tubular body, a top closure formed at its periphery with an inverted channel to receive the top edge of the body, the inner surface of said body and said closure being coated with an impervious heat sealing material, the major portion of said channel being sealed to the top edge of the body by said material, the outer wall of the unsealed portion of said channel being weakened intermediate the ends of said unsealed portion, a strip of thin sheet material positioned intermediate said unsealed portion of the channel and the adjacent top edge of the body and extending across said weakened part, said strip being sealed to the inner surfac of said channel by said adhesive material and being unsealed to the adjacent top edge of the body.

4. A container formed of sheet fibrous material comprising a tubular body, a plug type top closure comprising a central portion and a continuous peripheral inverted channel to receive the top edge of the body, the inner and outer Walls of the major portion of said channel being permanently sealed to the top edge of the body, a strip of single thickness, thin, non-wicking, sheet material positioned in the remaining portion of said channel, said strip lining the channel and being sealed to the inner surface of the channel and being unsealed to the inner and outer confrontingburfaces of the adjacent top edge of the body, the outer wall of the sealed portion of said channel being weakened at a point spaced in proximity to each end of said strip, the central portion of the closure being formed with a score line with 5. A container formed of sheet fibrous material comprising a tubular bodyhaving its upper end open, a plug type end closure formed at its periphery with a continuous invertedchannel to receive the top edge of the body, the inner and outer walls of the major portion of the channel being permanently sealed to the inner and outer confronting surfaces of the top edge of the body, a strip of thin, non-wicking, single thickness, sheet material positioned intermediate the remaining portion of the channel and the adjacent top edge of the body, said strip lining the unsealed portion of the channel and being sealed to the inner surface thereof, the inner surface of the strip overlying and contacting the inner and outer surfaces of the adjacent top edge of the body and being unsealed thereto, and the outer wall of the sealed portion of the channel being weakened at a point spaced in proximity to each end of said strip.

6. A container formed of sheet fibrous material comprising a tubular body having its upper end open, a plug type top closure formed at its periphery with a continuous inverted channel to receive the top edge of the body, the major portion of said channel being permanently sealed to the top edge of the body, a strip of metal foil positioned intermediate the remaining portion of the channel and the adjacent top edge of the body, said strip linin the unsealed portion of the channel and being sealed to the inner surface thereof, the inner surface of said strip overlying and contacting the inner and outer surfaces of the adjacent top edge of the body and being readily separable therefrom, and the outer wall of the sealed portion of the channel being weakened at a point spaced in proximity to each end of said foil strip.

7. A container formed of flexible sheet fibrous material comprising a body rectangular in cross section, a top closure formed at its periphery with an inverted channel to receive the top edge of the body, said closure channel being sealed to the top edge of the body throughout the major portion' of its length, said sealed portion extending around three corners of the body and closure, the remaining portion of the channel extending around the fourth corner being unsealed to the body, the outer wall of said channel being severed at said fourth corner, and a strip of thin, sheet material positioned in said unsealed portion of the closure channel and lining the same and extending uninterrupted around said fourth corner, said strip contacting the contiguous portion of the body and being sealed to the inner surface of said channel only and being readily separable from the body.

8. A container formed of sheet material comprising a tubular body open at its upper end, a plug type top closure formed at its periphery with a continuous inverted channel to receive the top edge of the body, the inner and outer walls of the major portion of said channel being sealed to the inner and outer confronting surfaces of the top edge of the body and the remaining portion being unsealed thereto, the outer wall of the unsealed portion of said channel being weakened medial of the ends of said portion, a single thickness strip of thin sheet material positioned intermediate said unsealed portion of the channel and the adjacent top edge of the body and extending uninterruptedly across said weakened part, said strip being sealed to the inner surface of the walls of said channel and being unsealed to the confronting surfaces of the adjacent top edge of the body and depending below the outer wall of the unsealed portion of the closure channel.

9. A container formed of sheet fibrous material comprising a body member polygonal in cross section and having its upper end open, a plug type top closure member closing said opening, said closure member being of shape comparable to the body and being formed at its periphery with an inverted continuous peripheral channel to receive the top edge of the body in face contacting relation, the confronting contacting surfaces of at least one of said members within the channel being coated with an adhesive material effective to fixedly seal said members together, a seal barrier positioned between the channel and body at a corner thereof, said seal barrier comprising a strip of non-wicking sheet material extending in single thickness only uninterruptedly around said corner and overlying the top edge of the body and contacting the inner and outer surfaces thereof, the surface of the strip contacting the body of the container being unsealable with said adhesive material and effective to prevent the channel of the closure at said corner sealing to the body, whereby said corner portion of the closure may be readily moved from the body to provide a corner pour opening.

10. A container formed of sheet fibrous material comprising a body member polygonal in cross section and having its upper end open, a plug type top closure member closing said opening, said closure member being of shape comparable to the body and being formed at its periphery with an inverted continuous peripheral channel to receive the top edge of the body in face contacting relation, a corner portion of said closure being adapted to be folded from the body to form a pour opening at a. corner of the body, the confronting contacting surfaces of said members within the channel being coated with an adhesive material effective to fixedly seal said members together, a seal barrier positioned between the channel of said foldable portion of the closure member and the contiguous corner portion of the body, said seal barrier comprisin a single thickness strip of thin, non-wicking, sheet material extending uninterruptedly around said corner and overlying the top edge of the body and contacting the inner and outer surfaces thereof, the surface of the strip contacting the body of the container being unsealable thereto, whereby said foldable corner portion of the closure may be readily moved from the body to provide a corner pour opening.

RAYMOND H. HORNING. ISAAC L. WILCOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fi.e of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,949,792 Etherton Mar. 6, 1934 1,961,375 McAleer June 5, 1934 2,004,818 Luckett June 11, 1935 2,241,710 Lowey May 15, 1941 2,249,052 Seiffert July 15, 1941 2,276,577 Hahn Mar. 17, 1942 2,302,083 Wilcox Nov. 17, 1942 2,338,019 Baker et a1 Dec. 28, 1943 

